Sire Bass Club!

[gimmeagig]

I have waited to post a picture of my new V7 Vintage because I was going to make some modifications to it first. So that's done, here are the pictures. I don't need a number LOL
The changes I made are not that visible. Here is what I did:
I lowered the pots into the cavity so that the knobs are now where they should have been all along.I changed the balance knob for a larger Fender style knob. I installed Hipshot tuners and a Gotoh quick release bridge. I removed the string retainer bar because the tuners a conical so the strings are automatically slipping close to the headstock. All that is needed is the round standard retainer. Black pickguard screws and wide black strap buttons.

 

[EricTheFish]

Hello all,
Am I missing something here? Is there any reason to choose the P5 option over the P7?

I have both. The p5`s neck is thicker. It is still not a full classic precision neck, but closer to the newer Fender precision necks (42mm). The P7 has a very think neck, and because of the rolled edges, it feels extra slim, slimmer than a regular jazz neck. Soundwise, the P7 can do pretty much anything with the preamp. The p5 is limited (as all p-basses are), but sounds and feels awesome.

 

[Jv-d]

Sire's seem hard to get. I would love to grab a p5 4 string they have in Red. I even contacted Sire about there supply and was just told to contact my dealer. Are they making these things?

Try Thomann... They seem to have a good variety in stock, and their shipping time is faster from Germany (2-3 days) than domestic, and cheaper too
https://www.thomannmusic.com/marcus_miller_misc_4_string_basses.html

 

[Grufolo]

I have both. The p5`s neck is thicker. It is still not a full classic precision neck, but closer to the newer Fender precision necks (42mm). The P7 has a very think neck, and because of the rolled edges, it feels extra slim, slimmer than a regular jazz neck. Soundwise, the P7 can do pretty much anything with the preamp. The p5 is limited (as all p-basses are), but sounds and feels awesome.

Thanks a lot for replying.
An issue for me is how much prettier the P5 finishes I see around are, so is there a way to check in what colours the P7 is available?

 

[joe03]

Try Thomann... They seem to have a good variety in stock, and their shipping time is faster from Germany (2-3 days) than domestic, and cheaper too
https://www.thomannmusic.com/marcus_miller_misc_4_string_basses.html

Even their stock is low. Not the model I'm looking at.

 

[OldShark]

Thanks a lot for replying.
An issue for me is how much prettier the P5 finishes I see around are, so is there a way to check in what colours the P7 is available?

IMHO, the Sire website is the official resource for general available models and colors — it's just usually not helpful as indicator of availability, as it often tells whole model ranges as "out of stock" whereas these are available via common distributors...

If you prefer the roasted neck of the P5, the P8 is basically a Ash P7 with roasted neck (and a higher price and currently hard to get...)

 

[Grufolo]

If you prefer the roasted neck of the P5, the P8 is basically a Ash P7 with roasted neck (and a higher price and currently hard to get...)

So the P8 had basically got the same features as the P7 with just different woods?

That's awkward considering the price difference

 

[OldShark]

So the P8 had basically got the same features as the P7 with just different woods?

That's awkward considering the price difference

Well, AFAIK, the cost of Ash wood has drastically increased in the last years because of tree parasites. Before that, I guess P7/V7/M7 Ash models were usually 90-100 bucks more than their Alder counterparts in the same range.

Then with the new P8 and V8, there's the roasted neck, a different bridge and an included gigbag. But it certainly is also presented as somewhat "more premium"...

 

[Jon Draffan]

I do not have any of those, just want to point out another possibly important difference: The P7 has a jazz neck like the V series whereas the P5 has a chunkier P style neck.

I've marveled at how close the unbound 1.625" P5 neck feels to the bound 1.5" V5. Those rounded edges and flat-ish profile on the P5 are reminiscent of a Stingray neck shape, IMHO.

The P7 seems to have the roundest C shape of them all, then the V5, and the flattest is the P5.... Then there are those roasted necks. Wow. For some reason sire decides to put a thin coat of satin on the back of their roasted maple necks and I found that rubbing gently (polishing force) with some 0000 steel wool left those necks being some of the best feeling wood I've played on. YMMV \_(",)_/

 

[Jv-d]

I think the Sire drought is great... In that, people are appreciating what Sire has to offer, and snatching them up... A testament to solid quality at an accessible price point...
You might not be able to get exactly what you want when you want it...
You might want to snatch up something that works for you, until what you want becomes available...
They all play and sound pretty damn good... and you might really fall for a model that was not your first choice!!

 

[timmus]

Well, AFAIK, the cost of Ash wood has drastically increased in the last years because of tree parasites. Before that, I guess P7/V7/M7 Ash models were usually 90-100 bucks more than their Alder counterparts in the same range.

Then with the new P8 and V8, there's the roasted neck, a different bridge and an included gigbag. But it certainly is also presented as somewhat "more premium"...

Yep...Ash Borer is killing many ash trees around the northeast US and most likely other places. Sad to see a tree go from healthy to falling down dead in less than 5 years...much like the American Elms and American Chestnut trees. In fact, looking back 100 years or so ago, the American Chestnut and the American Elm trees were the most plentiful trees from the midwest to New England and now there are virtually none, wiped out in pretty much a generation. Sucks.

 

[timmus]

I have waited to post a picture of my new V7 Vintage because I was going to make some modifications to it first. So that's done, here are the pictures. I don't need a number LOL
The changes I made are not that visible. Here is what I did:
I lowered the pots into the cavity so that the knobs are now where they should have been all along.I changed the balance knob for a larger Fender style knob. I installed Hipshot tuners and a Gotoh quick release bridge. I removed the string retainer bar because the tuners a conical so the strings are automatically slipping close to the headstock. All that is needed is the round standard retainer. Black pickguard screws and wide black strap buttons.View attachment 4965311 View attachment 4965310 View attachment 4965308 View attachment 4965307 View attachment 4965306

I have a 4 string version of that bass. Sure wish I'd bought the five string version too. The prices, when you can find one, have increased substantially since last summer when I bought my four stringer.

 

[Rod Tension]

Am I missing something here? Is there any reason to choose the P5 option over the P7?

they should sound the close in passive mode, but I haven't played both to be honest. obviously, there's more wood carved out of the P7 for the extra pick up and preamp circuitry and battery compartments. the neck has a different mass too, so the bass may sound and balance slightly different as well. other distinguishing features of the P5 are 20% less expensive, traditional P-width neck @ the nut, standalone unstacked tone control much easier to use, no need to unplug to avoid battery drain.

 

[EricTheFish]

The only thing what could be questionable in my view is a very thick rosewood rounded fingerboard (about 5 or more mm thick) which looks and feels unusual.

Why do you feel it is questionable? Is there something against using thick rosewood boards, or it just is unusual?

 

[Baker69]

I have a Gen 2 Sire P7 (5 string), I've always found that the neck (P Bass style) split pickup totally overpowers the J type bridge pickup, favouring the bridge pickup or using the bridge pickup on its own just doesn't seem to be an option as the sound is too 'thin'. Does anyone else share the same opinion/experience?

Even when the pickup blend control is centred it is still a very P bass focused sound. I don't think there's anything wrong with the bridge pickup or wiring, perhaps all P/J configuration basses are like this (to a degree)?

I do love the bass, however I'm a bit disappointed that I can't use the bass with it set as the J pickup being the dominant pickup.

 

[LowEndLobster]

Good news everyone! It looks like the Gotoh GB528 are DROP IN replacements for Sire V, P, D and U series basses that don't require any additional drilling AND are lighter than Hipshot Licensed Ultralites! I was looking to snag some Ultralite sets but it seemed that stock of Licensed ones are very low. I bought a few sets of the Gotohs instead and am very impressed with the results so far!

Here's the Gotoh GB528 next to the stock tuner:

Here's a weight comparison

Stock Sire Tuner:

Hipshot Licensed Ultralite:

Gotoh GB528:

(it's just dust on the scale)

Here's the finished result with one tuner:

Like the hipshots, you do have quite a bit of play in the tuner hole, however the tape trick isn't needed because the screw holes line up perfectly. The screws that come with the GB528 are a bit longer and thicker, I reused the stock screws.

I'll be making a video doing the swap with my P5 5 string and comparing neck dive. With 5 tuner's we'll be saving approx 200G/.43lbs from the headstock. VERY significant! 156G/.34lbs savings for a 4 string. WOW!

Hope this helps folks out there looking for an easy tuner swap solution!

 

[El Trueno]

Good news everyone! It looks like the Gotoh GB528 are DROP IN replacements for Sire V, P, D and U series basses that don't require any additional drilling AND are lighter than Hipshot Licensed Ultralites! I was looking to snag some Ultralite sets but it seemed that stock of Licensed ones are very low. I bought a few sets of the Gotohs instead and am very impressed with the results so far!

Here's the Gotoh GB528 next to the stock tuner:

Here's a weight comparison

Stock Sire Tuner:

Hipshot Licensed Ultralite:

Gotoh GB528:

(it's just dust on the scale)

Here's the finished result with one tuner:

Like the hipshots, you do have quite a bit of play in the tuner hole, however the tape trick isn't needed because the screw holes line up perfectly. The screws that come with the GB528 are a bit longer and thicker, I reused the stock screws.

I'll be making a video doing the swap with my P5 5 string and comparing neck dive. With 5 tuner's we'll be saving approx 200G/.43lbs from the headstock. VERY significant!

Hope this helps folks out there looking for an easy tuner swap solution!

Woohoo!! I was about to order some ultralites but I'd rather go for a drop in than drilling extra holes. Thanks Lobster! Modding one of my P5s this month so this came just in time. Just wish the AlBridge bridge that I've had on back order since November would show up now

 

[LowEndLobster]

Here's the finished result.

 

[Harley90]

Thanks so much! Ordered for my Sire V9! Looking for a gold set too

 

[SulzerType2]

Looks good! You could bump the redundant stock screws back into their holes just to tidy up the look a bit? The usual cocktail stick plugs would stand out a bit on a neck that dark.